The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-22
BELIEVERS IN RIVER ROUTES.
Col. w. C. Percy, of Mississippi, Makes
the Speech OF the Day,

MEMPHIS, TENN, Oct. 2l.-The Western
Waterways Convention assembled this
morning at $50 o'clock and was called to
order by Judge Clapp, after which ex-Gov.
f. O. Stanard, of Missouri, the permanent
chairman, was installed and made an able
speech. Pending the retirement of the
Committee on Resolutions, the convention
was entertained by speeches from Judge r.
S. Taylor, of Indiana, member of
the river Commission; Judge Prendergast,
of Chicago; Hon. E. c. Hooker, of Alissis
sippi; Hon. John Baker, of Illinois, and
Col. w. A Percy, of Mississippi. The last
named gentleman made the speech oy the
day and occupied two hours in its delivery,
during which the attention of the conven-
tion never tagged.
RIVER AND HARBoR BILLS.
1t was a powerful presentation Of the
merits of the river and harbor bills, and the
Speaker urged the convention to stand by
that method of legislation at all hazards,
| and not to consent to disassoclate the Mis-
sissippi river and other great streams from
the smaller channels of commerce. He in
| sisted that the attempt to make a separate
measure of the Mississippi river improve
ments would result in dismal failure. His
remarks seemed to echo the sentiment
of the convention and will doubtless be re-
| tlected in the report of the committee on
| resolutions, of which he is a member.
Resolutions of regret at the sudden death of
President Fl. A. Montgomery Of the Mem
phis Jockey Club were adopted by rising
| vote.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
In the afternoon the Committee on Reso-
| lutions reported. The salient points of the
resolutions are as follows: The declarations
of the previous river Improvement conven-
tion are confirmed. The failure of the ap-
preparation to continue the improvement of
| our Western waterways is recalled with re-
| gret and meets with the disapproval of this
convention. Congress is invoked to regard
| the interests of the people of the
great Mississippi valley and Northwest
in this matter and it is demanded
that appropriations be made suffi-
cient to prosecute intelligently and sue
cessfully the work of river improvement
in the interest of our commerce.
| The lighthouse and sDag and dredge boat
services are asked to be extended 1t is
| provided that a commit ee consisting of one
delegate at large from each State, and one
| from each Congressional district represented
in the convention be appointed by each
| State delegation present, who shall be
charged with the duty of preparing as soon
as practicable a memorial to the Congress
of the United States in behalf of the dele
/
people whom they represent in support of
and in accordance with the foregoing reso-
luton. The committee is authorized to
| take such measures as may be necessary
| to procure due Congressional consideration
of the resolutions The Mississippi and
Missouri river Commissions are approved
as are the Hennepin canal project and the
opening of Bayou Plaquemine, Louisiana.
by locks The method of embodying all
appropriations for the improvement of
rivers and harhors in one bill is commended
as wise and proper method of dealing with
practical legislation, and securing a fair
distribution of the peoples money for the
benefit of the whole people. The charges so
| freely made that it is tainted with corrup-
tion are utterly repudiated, and it is main
tanned that river and harbor leg
| Station is more than usually
free from the infirmities of human
| legislation. The report continues: 1--WE
| affirm our absolute conviction that it is
only through the river and harbor bills an
nually promoted in Congress that Western
waterways can hope for any assistance
from the general government, and that it is
the plain duty of all friends of that
system to give to that measure, as
| a whole and in its entirety, their
cordial, unqualified and aggressive sup
| port" 1t also recommends that special aD-
! preparations be made to maintain and pro-
| tect the harbors of the principal towns and
cities of Mississippi. The chairman was au-
thorized to call the convention for the West
ern waterways for the year 1888 at such
| time and place as he may designate. The
report was unanimously adopted, and the
convention adjourned sine die